Helen presents nuclear energy project to EU Commissioner Dan Jørgensen

EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen visited Finland on 4 June and, as part of his programme, was introduced to Helen’s nuclear energy project, which is attracting broad interest across Europe.

Helsinki has around 700,000 inhabitants, and nearly 90 percent of its building stock is connected to district heating. This makes the city particularly well suited for large-scale, combustion-free heating solutions based on nuclear energy.

“With nuclear energy, we could secure the energy needs of a growing city while simultaneously reducing emissions and helping to contain rising energy costs,” says Pekka Tolonen, CEO of Helen Nuclear Ltd.

A resilient energy system built on multiple sources

The current geopolitical situation has highlighted the importance of energy security and self-sufficiency in Europe. Strengthening energy independence helps ensure reliable supply and mitigate price volatility.

“A resilient energy system is built on multiple sources. At Helen, we combine electrification, renewable energy and nuclear energy to create a reliable, low-emission energy system,” Tolonen says.

While nuclear energy is widely used for electricity generation in Europe, its use in district heating remains limited.

Helsinki’s district heating system is undergoing a major transformation. Helen fully phased out coal in energy production in 2025 and has since invested significantly in waste heat utilisation, electrification of heating, biomass and flexible energy solutions. Solutions based on renewable energy, storage, electric boilers and heat pumps are already widely in use.

The goal is for waste heat, heat pumps and electric boilers to account for more than 60 percent of district heat production by 2030. The remainder will be produced using biomass and, during peak demand, fossil fuels if necessary. By 2040, nuclear energy could form a new pillar of the system, enabling a full transition away from combustion-based heat production.

Growing energy demand calls for new solutions

Small modular reactors (SMRs) offer several advantages, including low-emission, reliable and flexible production, a relatively small footprint, and the ability to produce both heat and electricity.

Electricity demand in Finland is expected to grow significantly over the coming decade and may even double due to electrification and industrial transformation. In Helsinki, this growth is expected to materialise already by the end of this decade.

Helen is exploring both heat-only and combined heat and power solutions. In a CHP model, electricity produced could be fed into the national grid, supporting both the Helsinki metropolitan area and the Finnish energy system as a whole.

“Energy security and growing demand require new solutions. We are excited that this project could pave the way for SMR investments in Finland and across Europe,” Tolonen says.

Project progressing as planned

Helen’s nuclear energy programme is progressing as planned. The company has launched a procurement process to select a technology supplier, and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) will begin in autumn at three alternative sites.